Switch and safety-stop for elevated conveyer-tracks.



H. WEICKEL.

0? FOR ELEVATED CONVEYER TRACKS.

APPUCATION FILED JULYH| 1913. 1,139,61 1.

'SWITCH AND SAFETY ST Patented May 18, 1915.

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H WEICKEL. SWITCH AND SAFETY STOP FOR ELEVATED CONVEYER TRACKS.

' APPLICATION FILED IULYITI 1913. 1,139,61 1.

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Patented May18,1915.

HENRY WEICKEL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO PAWLING AND HA1} NISGHFEGER COMPANY, OF WEST MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SWITCH AND SAFETY-STOP FOR ELEVATED CONVEYER-TRACKS;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY l VnIoKEL, a citizen of the United States, resldlng at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Switches the construction and operation of devicesof this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan'view of a switchand stops embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line 2' 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 33, Figs. 1 and 4; and Fig; 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the switch and of thesafety stops adjacent to the movable end of the switch tongue, certain parts being broken away and shown in horizontal section. c

The switchcomprises a main track sec tion a, and two or more branch track sections 6 and 0, suspended from cross pieces at the opposite ends of an elevated frame 61?, preferably made of structural steel, and supported as shown in'Fig. 2, by posts e. The rails are preferably of I-section on the lower flanges of which the trolley wheels of a conveyer are adapted to run on opposite sides of the web, as indicated by the dotted circle at the left on Fig. 2.

A switch tongue f, of I-section, corresponding with that of the main'and branch tracks a, b and c, is pivoted at one end to the main track a pivot blocks g and h,

Specification of Letters Patent.

bolted to the upper flanges of the rails and connected by a pivot pin 2' above the rails, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At its opposite end, which is adapted to be turned hori- Patented May 18, 1%15. Application filed July 17, 1913. Serial No. 779,441.

zontally into register with the branchtrack rails b and c, the switch: tongue is provided with a carriage or cross head j, bolted to the top flange of the tongue.

A curved cross rail 72 is mounted on and fastened to the tops of the branch track rails .7) and 0 concentric with the pivot pin 2' of the switch tongue, and the carriage or cross head 7' is provided on opposite sides and equidistant from the switch tongue with rollers Z, the axes of which are arranged lengthwise of the tongue or radial to its pivot pin 2', and which bear on the rail is, thereby firmly supporting the movable end of the tongue and enabling it to be easily shiftedfrom one positionto the 1 other.

A horizontally swinging arm m, vertically journaled in a bearingon one side of the frame, is connected by a link 11. with an upwardly projecting post or stud 0, .on the cross head j, and is provided with a pinion p concentric with its journal.

A segment gear g of greater radius than the pinion 77 with which it meshes, is verti cally j ournaled in a bearing on the frame d, and is provided with arms 1", projecting therefrom in diametrically opposite directions.

Cables 8, attached to the arms 1', lead therefrom over guiding sheaves t, which are swiveled on stands u, mounted on a cross bar '21 fastened to the top of the track rail at one or more of the approaches to the switch. In the present case the switch shifting connections are shown as leading to the approach along the main track, but

they may lead to the approach along either or both branch tracks, any or all of the appreaches being provided with such connections. The operating cables, which may consist of wire rope, chains, or partly of ropes or chains and rods, are preferably provided at, the ends opposite the arms 7*, as shown in Fig. 2, with handles w, within convenient reach of, an operator in'the cage of a conveyer approaching the switch.

H Adjustable stops, consisting of bolts secured bynuts 3 in a cross bar a on the frame cl in the path ofthefarm m, are adapted to arrest the movable end ofmthe switch tongue f in exact register with the branch traclr'rails b and 0. These stops are locatedsomewhat more than 180 degrees apartin, the path of the arm m, so as to 7 permit the arm to be turned through an are of somewhat more than 180 degrees in Shift ing the switch tongue from one limit of its movement to the other, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Outwardly yielding buffers are mounted on the cross rail 70 adjacent to the ends thereof in position to engage with a central lug 2. on the carriage or cross headj as the switch tongue appr'oachesthe limits of its movement inopposite directions. These buffers may each consist of a bolt 3, mount:

ed and movable lengthwise in a bearing 4: attached to the. rail is" parallel therewith, a spiral spring '5 interposed between said bearing and the head on the inner end of the bolt, and nuts 6 securing the bolt in the bearing and limiting its inward movement. The reaction of thesespring buffers on the switch tongue after the armm passes its dead center in either direction, operates to hold said arm in engagement with the stop 50 against which it is carried in shifting the switch tongue, and thus securely retains said tongue in register with either branch track rail into line with which it is brought. The reaction of the butter springs when the arm m is moved away from either stop andpasses its dead center, also a ds the operatorto'shift the switch.

Toprevent a conveyer from running ofi from the open end of either branch track,

the switch tongue is provided on opposite sides thereofw-ith safety stops 7, each of which is adapted to blockone of the branch tracks when the tongue is shifted intore'gister with the other branch .tracln These stops are made to pass through openings 8 formed in the webs of the'branch track rails Z) and c, and to project on opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, so as to engage with the trolley wheels of a con veyer on opposite sides of the rail and evenly distributethe impact of a conveyer running toward the switch to the' web of the branch railagainst which the stop is adapted to beseatedat the end of the opening toward the switch tongue.

To compensate for inaccuracy and variations in fitting and adjustment incident to structures of this kind, and to insure the seating of the stops whenthey are subjected to the impact of the trolley wheels of a con-' veyer against the webs of the branch rails at the inner ends of the openings 8, and to 'permitjthe stops to freely pass into position insaid openings, the openings are made as shown, larger than the stops, and the stops said branch track 0.

are movably mounted on thefcarriag'e or cross head j and adapted toyield toward 7 tween the shoulders thereon and the inner bearingslO, tendto thrustthe stops outwardly toward the branch track rails, their movement in "that direction being adjustably limited by. nuts 12 threaded on the in nor ends of the shanks or stems and normally engaging the adjacent bearings 10.

, the pivoted end of the switch tongue. For.

Bymeans ofthese nuts the stops may be ad-' justed to pass freely into and through the openingsS n the. webs of the branch track rails, whilethe springs 11 permit'them to yield inwardly againstthe webs of the rails at'the inner ends of said openings, so that which is blocked by the stop, and the switch tongue and its connections with the stops will be relieved from injurious shocks and strains. 7

, In theoperation of the switch and stops, when the switch tongue f and stops 7 are set as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a conveyer will bedirected from the main track a to the branch track I) or vice versa. conveyer the impact of a conveyer running 'againsta stop will betransmitted directly to the rail approaching the switch on the branch track I 0 should not be stopped by the operator before 1t reaches theopen end of said track,

it would be arrested and prevented from 1 running off the track by the stop 7, which in this position of the switch tongue blocks If a conveyer approaching the switch on the main track a, is j to be diverted upon the branch track a, the

operator passing the approach to the switch on the main track, pulls on the left hand .i

cable-s, thereby shifting the switch tongue 7 from the position in which it is shown in .Fig. 1, to the position in which it is shown in Fig. gin register with said branch track 0. By this operation the left hand stop? is carried away from and clears the branch track 0,,while theright' hand stop-7 is car ried into the opening 8 of and blocks the branch traclrb. 7

As; hereinbefore mentioned, connections may be provided for shifting. the switch tongue from any or all of the. approaches v "thereto along the main andbranch tracks. Various modifications in'minor details of construction and arrangement o-fparts may be made without materially affecting the ise operation of the apparatus and without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an elevated frame, main and branch tracks suspended therefrom and aswitch' tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a swinging arm connected by a link with the switch tongue and provided with a pinion, a gear of larger radius meshing with the pinion, and operating connections attached to the gear on opposite sides of its center and leading'to an approach to the switch.

2. The combination with an elevated frame, main and branch tracks suspended therefrom and a switch tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a cross rail mounted on the branch tracks and supporting the movable end of the switch tongue, a vertically ournaled swinging arm connected by a link with the switch tongue, and operating'connections with said arm leading to an approach to the switch.

3. The combination with an elevated frame, main and branch tracks suspended therefrom and a switch tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a cross rail mounted on the branch tracks, a roller mounted on the movable end of the switch tongue and bearing onthe cross rall, a vertically journaled swinging arm connected by a link with the swltch tongue, operating connections with said arm leading to an approach to the switch, and stops cooperating with said arm to limit the movement of the switch tongue in opposite directions in register with the branch tracks.

4. The combination with elevated main and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivoted at one end to the mam track and adapted to be turned horizontally at the other end into register with either branch track, of a vertically journaled swinging arm connected by a link with the switch tongue, stops for limiting the movement of said arm and arresting the switch tongue in register with either branch track, and means for shifting the switch tongue.

5. The combination with elevated mam and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a vertically journaled arm connected by a link with the switch tongue and provided with a pinion, a gear of larger radius than the pinion meshing therewith and operating cables attached to the'gear on opposite sides of its center and leading over guides adjacent to an approach to the switch. 6. The combination with main and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into almement with either branch track, a swmging arm and link connection between the arrest said switch tongue'in-alinement with either branch track, and yielding buffers located on opposite sides of the: :Switch tongueand adapted to react thereon adjacent to the limits of its movement and to hold said arm in engagement with either stop.

7. The combination with main and brancl tracks and a switch tongue pivoted to the maintrack and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a swinging arm connected by a link with the movable end of the switch tongue, stops for said arm arranged to arrest the movable end of the switch tongue in register with either branch track and to permit the arm to be turned somewhat more than 180 degrees from one stop to the other, huffers arranged.

to react on the switch tongue adjacent to the limits of its movement and to hold said arm in engagement with either stop, and means for shiftingsaid switch tongue. i V

8. The combination with main and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivoted to the main track and adapted to be turned into register with either branch track, of a swinging arm connected by alink with the switch tongue, stops for said arm arranged to arrest the movable'end of the switch tongue in register with either branch track and to permit the arm to be turned somewhat more than 180 degrees from one stop to the other, outwardly yielding bufi'ers arranged to react on the switch tongue adjacent to the limits of its movement and to hold said arm in engagement with either stop, and means'for shifting said switch tongue from one position to the other.

9. The combination with elevated main 7 and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivend of the switch tongue and a stationary part to oneside thereof, stops for said. arm arranged to arrest the switch tongue in mg ister with either branch track and to permit said armto be turned somewhat more than 1.80 degrees from one stop to the other, outwardly yielding spring buffers mounted on said cross rail in the path of the switch tongue and adapted to hold said arm in en-' gagement with either stop, and operating j on said cross rail, a vertically journaled arm connections with said arm leading to an ap turned horizontally into register with either branch track,of a cross rail mounted on the branch track, a roller mounted on the'movable end of the switch tongue and bearing and link connection between the movable end of the switchtongue and a stationary partv to one side thereof, adjustable stops arranged somewhat more than 180 degrees apart in the path of said arm to arre'stthe I switch tongue in register with either branch track, outwardly yielding spring bufi'ers mounted on the cross rail in the path of the switch tongue and adapted by reaction on the switch tongue to hold said arm in'engage-merit with either stop, and meanswfor tion to the other.

- 11. The combination branch tracks and a switch tongue pivoted shifting the switch tongue from one posito the main track and adapted to be turned" into register with either branch track, the

branch tracks having seats adjacent totheir ends next to the switch tongue of longitudinally yielding stops connected. with the movable end of the switch tongue on opposite sidesthereof and adapted to block either with main and branch'track when the switch tongue is turnedinto register with the other branch track either stop when in blocking position being movable toward the switch tongue into engagement with the seat therefor on the open branch track. V

12. The combination with elevated singlerail main and branch tracks and a switch tongue pivotedto the maintrack and adapted tobe turned into register witheither of the branch tracks which have transverse openings vtherethrough adjacent to their ends next to the switch tongue, which is provided onoppositesides of its movable end movable lengthwise of the switch tongue in saidbearings and each adapted to pass throughthe opening in and to block one of 'theJbranCh tracks when the switch tongue ting them when subjected to the impact of 'a' conveyer running toward the switch tongue to yield toward said tongue and to be seated, against said branch tracks.

In witness whereof I hereto affiX' my signature in presence of two witnesses.

c v HENRY WEICKEL.

Witnsses:

' CHAS; L. Gross,

FRED PALM.

with stopbearings, of stops guided and 1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five-cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

